Consider what radio was like in its infancy. Listening to radio for many was with cat's whiskers and headphones. Boys of all ages built crystal radio sets from basic material, including food containers and wire. Recording tape was not available in the early days, but there was wire, and before that, disk.

A greater variety of programming emanated from the radio tubes then on virtually any subject. Soap operas, children's shows, drama, advice, quiz and variety shows flooded the airwaves. The thrilling concept is that these shows are available today on cassettes and CD's. There were 61,160 shows produced during those halcyon days of radio. Look in radio catalogs, purchase some tapes and tune in to what it was like then.

Comedy shows such as Amos and Andy were the hits of the nation. This show alone had forty million listeners a night! Folks tuned in regularly to hear their favorites like Fibber McGee and Molly, Lum and Abner, My Favorite Husband, (starring Lucille Ball, before I Love Lucy), Red Skelton and more. It is not possible to name each show here, so I am listing Nostalgia Search's Top 5 at the end of each category.

Our Top 5 in comedy:

1. Burns and Allen

2. Our Miss Brooks

3. Jack Benny

4. The Charlie McCarthy Show

5. My Friend Irma

Detective shows had listeners investigating True Detective Mysteries in the 1930's and 1940's. Gangbusters began in 1936 and dealt with the captures of wanted criminals. The populace thrilled to the Adventures of Philip Marlowe. In solving mysteries some audiences liked to Let George Do It and decided that Mystery Is My Hobby. Do Tales of Mystery and Imagination intrigue you? Then do some sleuthing on

These Top 5:

1. The Adventures of Sam Spade

2. Philo Vance

3. Sherlock Holmes

4. The Shadow

5. Chandu the Magician

Science Fiction buffs! Does your imagination travel to far-flung stars and on rocket ships to the moon? Then trek with Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and Space Patrol. You can also travel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea courtesy of Family Theater. Your curiosity will lead you Beyond Tomorrow to Explore the Unknown. Now explore these

Top 5:

1. Dimension X

2. X Minus One {sequel to Dimension X}

3. Arch Oboler's Plays

4. The War of the Worlds

5. The Hermit's Cave

Now that we are in the proper mood for what is spooky let us move on to Suspense and Scary shows. Earlier I mentioned that I have two "replica" radio-cassette players, a 1940 Thomas and a 1936 Crosley. Each time I play radio cassettes in them, I turn off the lights so the only illumination emanates from the lighted yellow dial on the "vintage" radios. You can well imagine the sense of suspense and excitement while listening to eerie sounds and bumps in the night. The wind rustles the tree leaves, while in the distance a dog bays at the moon. Doors creak on their hinges, footprints are heard...a tower clock chimes the midnight hour, and a black cat screeches as it runs by. You shiver and the hair on your neck is actually raised as you listen. The organ music on these shows also set the mood. The Haunting Hour and the Molle Mystery Theatre sent chills up and down the spines of many listeners. The Mysterious Traveler thrilled and chilled a little as he journeyed by train. Roger Elliot was the mystery man who resided in The House of Mystery. Quiet Please was in order as requested by Wyllis Cooper, the creator of Lights Out! I hope you are not too terrified to look at the Top 5:

1. Lights Out!

2. Inner Sanctum

3. Suspense

4. The Whistler- the 13-note whistle was whistled by Dorothy Roberts.

5. Dark Venture

Many people might be quite clueless as to the various game shows on the radio in the 1930's and 1940's. Entertaining quiz shows like Can You Top This? , Break the Bank, Askit Basket, and the Answer Man challenged the knowledge of their listeners. Guess Who was a game identifying mystery recordings. Gardenias to you if you can identify the Top 5:

1. Information Please

2. You Bet Your Life- with the one, the only Groucho Marx

3. What's the Good Word?

4. Twenty Questions {animal, vegetable, or mineral?}

5. The Quiz Kids

Want more? Tune into Old Time Radio and listen to the best. Many stations play the early radio shows on a regular basis-check with your local stations. Cassette tapes and CD's are there for your listening pleasure-now, you are on your way to having fun. In the words of George Burns:

SAY GOODNIGHT, GRACIE